War vessel.



Patented Mar. Il, |902. H. MAXIM.

WAR VESSEL (Application filed Nov. 10, 189B.)

4 SheeS-Sheet l.

(No Moduel.)

bum..

ljiil l1 III IIIIIII Il s E S S w. H W

TH: Nonms PETERS uo. Pdofwu'rno., wAsmNs'roN. u. c.

Pater'lted Mar. Il, |902.

No. sanos."

VH. MAXIM. vWAR VESSEL. (Appnimeiun me@ Nov. 1o, was.)

4 SheetAs-Sheet 2.

(No Model'.)

' Wl TNE SSE S mr: NQnms PETERS om pHoro-umn.. wAsnmroN4 u. a,

No. 695,108. Patented Mar. Il, |902.

H. MAXIM.

WAH VESSEL.

(Application led Nov. 10, 189B.)

4 sheets-sheet 3.

' (no Model.)

By @KQ/M.

A fr0/iwf y"" W/TNESSES -mz Noms persas co.. Pnmumo.. wnsums-ron. b. c.

No. 695.108'. Patented Mar. u,l |902.

- H. MAXIM.

l wAn VESSEL.

' (Application led Nov. 10` 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A TTOR/VE Y ma Nonals Pmns co.. PHoTo-uwo., wAsH'Nm'ou, u. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

HUDSON MAXIM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

WAR VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,108, dated March 11, 1902i.

I Application filed November l0, 1898. Serial'KBBLQSGAJOZ.l (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

B@ in known than, HUDSON MAXIM, a @1a-- certain new and useful Improvements in War Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to war vessels and to methods and apparatus for handling and controlling the same.

The inventionhas particular reference to light torpedo-boats for the projection of aerial and submarine torpedoes and the firing of other missiles.

The object of the invention is mainly to provide a torpedo-boat whichshall' have all its vulnerable or vital parts located deep beneath the water whenin action and when not in action may be quickly raised to such height with reference to submergence as to. enable it to travel through the -water with minimum resistance and maximum of speed and which may also atpwilll be'asquickly submerged, but which when submerged shall present above the surface a comparatively fragile and wholly dispensable structureelsuperstructure which shall serve the purpose of iiotation to prevent the vessel from sinking too loW beneath the surface and which in itself may also serve as a means for absorbing the impact of a missile striking the boat,

y so that the protective deck is in no danger -of being struck.

The invention furthermore provides means for mounting its armament upon hydraulic 'platforms which may be raised quickly into and the armament itself serve as ballast when the ship is lightened or raised for the purpose of high speed. y

In carrying out the invention a torpedo vessel is made or may be made on substantially the same lines as such craft are now constructed. Awhaleback or curved deliecting arm or shield is made to cover or to constitute the primary deck and which is interposed between the vital portions of the ves- -,structure.

sel and the non-vital portions of the super- Upon this protective deck, which may be of any desired thickness-say one inch of nickel-steel-is erected a non-vital su`- perstructure, preferably approximating the lvessel proper in width, length, and shape.

The superstructure is made to consist, preferably, of a large number of compartments or cells separated by thin metallic partitions and the compartments or cells preferably illed with cork or other light or similar substance. The superstructure is made of such verticalheight or depth as shall permit of the shield-deck and the vital covered portions of the vessel being submerged a desired or required distance beneath the surface of the water-say from live to ten feet-leaving a sufficient amount of the superstructure above its torpedo in close proximity to the battleship Vwithout suffering serious damage. The

larger guns on the battle-ship cannot be depressed sufficiently to throw a projectile downward by plunging fire through the superstructure and shield-deck. Larger shell can only pass harmlessly through-the superstructure, or, if bursting within it, the fragments will not possess destructive effect or force enough to reach downward to and through the shield-deck, andvthus the entire superstructure may be shotaway without material injury to the vital parts of the torpedo-boat and its mechanism. The smaller quick-ring guns, such as are employed against torpedo-boats, would not be powerful enough to pass through the superstructure and the shield-deck. y

Circular vertical openings are provided through the superstructure for the emergence of aerial-torpedo-gun platforms or for pits for aerial-torpedo mortar lire. The hydraulic IOO platforms, with the torpedo-gun, are preferably a little heavier than the water displaced by them, so that they are raised into position by steam, air, or other power; but the weight of the platforms in the water may be nearly balanced, so that little power may be required for the purpose, and as soon as the power is removed or allowed to exhaust the platforms will descend automatically. In addition to the admission and displacement of water ballast by the raising and submergence of the gunplatform a certain additional amount of water ballast may be admitted and ejected in any suitable manner, but preferably by the contraction and expansion of air-chambers containing air under pressure and such pressure as to nearly balance the amount of water desired to be displaced by them in much the same manner as the swimming-bladder of shes is contracted and expanded for the purpose of raising or lowering the fish in the water. These air-charnbers are provided with means for contracting' and expanding them and which, owing to the pressure of the contained air, will require butllittle additional power to obtain the maximum admission and ejection of the waterballast.

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a vessel provided with the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on a plane below the protective deck. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of automatic devices controlling certain of the valves, and Fig. 5 is a detail of the sliding joint between one of the valve-stems and the beveled gearing for actuating it.

Referring to said drawings, the vessel A may be of any usual or preferred construction embodying a main body B, having the usual protective or shield deck C of, say, turtle or whale back form, the body being adapted to contain the usual steaming, propelling, and other facilities common in the class ofvessels to which this invention more particularly relates, and in addition thereto carrying the armament and its mechanism and its ballast tanks or chambers, hereinafter described. The main body B supportsa superstructure D' of substantially the same length and width of the vessel, formed of thin metal and provided, preferably, with a number of compartments or cells e, adapted to contain and be filled with cork or other like material for flotation purposes, and also serving as an absorber of the impact of the missiles which may strike the vessel. This superstructure may, as indicated in Fig. l, be detachably secured to the main body B, such detachability being represented by the screw-bolts y, operated from the interior of the main body of the vessel. The superstructure is pierced withja vertical hole or holes f to permit the vertical movement of the gunplatforms g from their normal down position out of action into their raised active position and with a like hole or holes f for the conning-tower G, as in Fig. The gun platform or platforms g, with the guns and casements h, are preferably arranged so that as they are raised into active position water will be simultaneously admitted to fill the space below them to materially aid in raising the platforms and when raised serving as a partial support therefor and also as a Water ballast to hold the vessel submerged to the desired depth, as indicated in Fig. l, sothat the main body or vital portions of the vessel are removed from danger. As shown, the gunplatforms form pistons and move in a vertical hydraulic cylinder t', arranged for telescopic movement in a fixed hydraulic cylinder c, supported on the vessels bottom, with sea-openings through the bottom for the free ingress and egre'ss of Ithe water to the cylinders and under side of the platform-piston.

Any proper means and power may be employed to cause the raising movement of the gun and platforms. Thus there is shown an arrangement of telescopic air-cylinders and piston m located centrally with the hydraulic cylinders, compressed air being admitted beneath the piston from any suitable engine E. When it is desired to lower the gun-platforms, as in Fig. 3, the air may be exhausted from the air-cylinders, so as to allow the weight of the platforms in lowering to expel the water ballast, and thus allow the vessel to rise up toward its normal or running Waterline Qc, which platforms and their armament when in their down position then act as ballast for the vessel.

In addition to the water ballast admitted to the hydraulic-gun-platforrn cylinders water ballast may be received by any suitable chambers or water-compartments. Thus on one side of the vessel, Fig.- 2, there is shown a water-compartment F, controlled by a sea-valve o, by opening which the compartment may be filled, a pump p being provided to expel the water therefrom when desired. On the other side of the vessel there is shown a chamber q in the form of a cylinder having a piston r', one side open to the sea and the other side to a IOO IIO

confined body of air and connected to a hyh draulic ram s, which aids in drawing the piston in one direction to compress the air to the maximum, and thus draw in the full quantity of water, and in the reverse direction to expel the Water to the fullest extent after the compressed air has performed its duty in moving the piston r in that direction.

While the gun-platforms are shown raised to theirmaximum, it is of course obvious that they need not be, as when in firing mortars their necessary elevation will be sufficient to have their missiles clear the superstructure.

In addition to the disappearing gun-platforms and guns the vessel, as Vshown in Fig.

3, may be provided with a disappearing conning-tower G, operated, say, bya telescopic pneumatic cylinder andV pistoni, air being Vsupplied to said cylinder by any suitable engine, such as the engine E. The conningtower of course may be and preferably is raised independent of the gun-platforms, the officer in the tower controlling the movements thereof, if preferred.

The war vessel may furthermore be adaptedto be employed as a wholly-submerged craft byclosing the hatchways and ports or other openings in. the main or whaleback deck to make them water-tight, so that the boat may be driven under water at any desired depth either by steam or Vother'motor fluid used eX- pansively or by electricity. kWhen the boat is entirely submerged, it is kept at a desired depth below the surface by the action of the pressure ,of the surrounding water. As the boat sinks to greater depths, the pressure of the water becoming greater, the excess of pressure below the line of travel or the horizontal plane on which the boat is traveling, as shown in Fig. 4, may be utilized to operate a valve or electrical Vswitch u or other device for lessening or increasing the water ballast, either by actuating or causing the'actuation of a hydra'ulic ram or by turningy on steam or compressedair or other motor fluid or foroperating an electric switch to actuatue a pump p' for compressing or supplying more air into any of the chambers F for the expulsionof water or for pumping water out of the chambers. Hence by the operation ofthe controlling apparatus for regulating the depth of submergence of the boat the boat may be automatically maintained at the desired depth below the surface. The switch u is shown connected to a plunger fv, one endexposed at the vessels side or bottom to the sea, the pressure of thewater imparting the'desired movement thereto.

The'electric motor J, operating the pump p' for discharging the water ballast from the compartment F, has itsarmature-shaft connected to'the pump-driving pinion by'a oneway clutch lO of well-known form, so that upon the reversalofthe motor the pump will remain idle. The reversalof the motor when the pressure of the water upon the switchoperating plunger udecreases, so that the switch mayrevers'e the `electric current to the motor, may operate tol open the sea-valve o,

so that water may enter the compartment.'

been shown, it is to be understood that theV invention is susceptible of many modifications in details and arrangements of. parts withoutfdeparting from itsscope.

What is claimedisf l. In a vessel the combination of the main hull, a flotationsuperstructure securedwater-tight upon the main hull, ballast-cylinders formed in the main hull andconimunicating with the open sea, pistons working in said ballast-cylinders, and .power devices for operating said pistons, whereby the main hull may be maintained at'the sea-level or depressed below the 'same'as desired.

2. In a vessel the combination of the main hull provided witha protective deck, a cellular a flotation superstructure securedl watertight`upon the main hull, lixed ballast-cylinders formed in the main hull and communicatingwith the open sea, movable cylinders playing in said iixed cylinders and in open communication therewith, weighted pistons playing in said movable cylinders,and a power device controlling the movements of said pistons.

` 3. In a vessel the combination of a main hull, a vertical ballast-cylinder formed therein communicatingwith the open sea, a weighted piston inthe form of a gun-platform playing in said cylinder and a power device controlling the movements of said piston.

4:.'In a vessel the combination of a main hull,`a vertical ballast-cylinder formed therein communicating with the sea, aweighted piston inthe form of a'gun-platform playing in said cylinder,v a telescopic cylinder having its' piston connected to said platform and means supplying motive iiuid to said telescopic cylinder.

5; In a vessel Vthe combination ofa main hull, acellular flotation superstructure detachably secured water-tight to said hull, a iiXed vertical ballast-cylinder formed in said hull communicating withlthe sea, a movable cylinder playingtelescopically in' said fixed cylinder through an opening in said superstructure, and a weighted piston in the form ofA a gun-platformplaying in said cylinder, and a power device controlling the movements of said piston, whereby the main hull may be depressed below or raised on a level withthe surface of the sea and thegun-platform simultaneously raised or lowered.

6. In aV vessel a ballast-chamber consisting of a cylinder in communication with the sea, a weighted piston in the form of a gun-platform playing in said cylinder, and a power device 4controlling the movements of said piston, whereby the vessel may be lowered and the gun-platform simultaneously raised and vice versa.

7.-` In a vessela main hull and aiiotation superstructure secured water-tight thereon,

a cylinder extending upward through the hull and said superstructure, p a platform-piston playing inrsaid cylinder and a power device VIOO IIO

form and means simultaneously lowering the superstructure secured watertight thereon, Vessel and raisngthe platform and vice versa. the telescopic ballast-cylinder with the gun- 9. The combination of the main hull and platform piston, and the power devices conthe flotation superstructure secured Watertrolling the movements of saidpiston,witl1the 5 tgllt thereon with a gun-platform normally automatically-controllecl ballast-chambers. Wit in the main hull, and means simultane- Y v I ously depressing the main hull below the sea- HUDSON MAIM level and elevating the gun-platform into the Witnesses: superstructure. GEO. H. GRAHAM, 1o 10. The combination of the main hull, the JAMES F. DUHAMEL. 

